Shackle apparatus

ABSTRACT

A shackle apparatus including a generally U-shaped shackle body having an arcuate end, a pair of parallel arms, and a retaining member spanning a gap defined between the shackle arms. The retaining member cooperates with the shackle body to define a closed loop which can be permanently attached to a sling or lifting cable. The retaining member prevents the shackle apparatus from being removed and installed on another sling or lifting cable without substantially destroying the shackle apparatus of the present invention.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

PRIORITY OF UNITED STATES PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION SERIAL No.61/296,958 FILED JANUARY 21, 2010, INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, ISHEREBY CLAIMED.

STATEMENTS AS TO THE RIGHTS TO THE INVENTION MADE UNDER FEDERALLYSPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

NONE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an assembly for connecting asling, cable, or other lifting device to a load to be lifted. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a shackle apparatus thatis permanently attached to a set of slings, lifting cables or the like.More particularly still, the present invention relates to a captivatedshackle apparatus that must also be discarded when attached slings orlifting cables are discarded.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Numerous devices have been devised for the purpose of lifting baskets,skids and/or similar equipment, especially in connection with thetransportation of said baskets, skids and/or equipment from one location(such as, for example, the deck of a boat) to another location (such as,for example, an offshore platform) using a crane, hoist or other liftingmeans. In the course of such lifting operations, consideration must begiven to maintaining control of a load during the lifting process.Consideration must also be given to other factors, such as ease inmaking connections and disconnections to such load, as well as theprotection or preservation of the load being transported. Perhaps moresignificantly, consideration must also be given to minimizing possiblefailure locations on the item(s) being lifted, as well as the relatedlift equipment, in order to prevent damage to property or personnel.

During lifting operations, large or heavy loads are typically liftedusing a set of slings connected to the line of a crane, or hoist orother lifting apparatus. Although it is often possible to connect acrane or hoist line directly to a load to be lifted using shackles orthe like, slings generally provide an intermediate means to quickly andefficiently connect a lifting device to a load. Further, because manyslings utilize two or more separate lines connected to a central link orloop, slings are generally preferred because they allow for more evenweight distribution during the lifting process.

The use of slings to lift and/or transport equipment, cargo or otherloads is very common in offshore or marine operations, as well asnumerous other applications, such as the loading and unloading of shipsand other vessels. It should be noted that the offshore oil and gasindustry, although representative of the issues faced in the lifting andtransportation of heavy loads, is but one application involving suchissues.

The use of lifting slings or cables as an intermediary link forconnecting a load to a lifting device (such as a crane hook or the like)is well known. In conventional lifting applications, a lifting slingnormally has a plurality of cable legs of substantially equal length,which are joined together at their upper ends and are coupled to acommon, master connection assembly. In most instances, said masterconnection assembly is a loop dimensioned so that it can easily connectto a crane hook. Each cable leg of the sling is normally fitted with alooped terminal end which is formed using a mechanical joint or crimpedband.

In many instances, shackles or other means can be used to connect theindividual lines of a set of slings to pad-eyes of a load to be lifted.Specifically, a shackle or clevis is commonly used to connect eachlooped end of a sling or lifting cable to a load to be lifted. Inconventional lifting applications utilizing existing shackle assemblies,a substantially U-shaped shackle having a mouth or opening is passedthrough the loop or eye of a sling or lifting cable. Thereafter, a boltis threaded through aligned bores in said shackle and an opening in alift lug or pad eye of a load to be lifted. In this manner, the shackleprovides a quick and efficient means for affixing a sling, cable, orother lifting device to a load to be lifted.

Safety regulations and customary safety procedures often dictate thatlifting slings or cables be discarded after a predetermined threshold ismet, such as a certain period of time or number of lifts. Despite suchsafety regulations and/or procedures, it has been observed that shacklesare often removed from such lifting slings or cables prior to discardingof the slings or cables. The removal of shackles from such slings andre-use of such shackles on other slings or lifting cables defeats thepurpose of the aforementioned safety practices. As such, it would bebeneficial to provide a captivated shackle apparatus permanentlyattached to a set of lifting slings or cables that must be discardedalong with such attached slings or lifting cables in order to ensurethat such shackles are not re-installed or re-used on other slings orlifting cables.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention comprises a shackle apparatus having a generallyU-shaped shackle body having an arcuate end, a pair of substantiallyparallel arms, and a retaining member disposed between said shacklearms. Each arm has a lower end with a transverse bore for receiving abolt or other rigid member, the lower ends being substantially parallelsuch that the transverse bores are in general axial alignment.

The shackle apparatus of the present invention is intended to bepermanently attached to a sling of a lifting cable such that theretaining member prevents such shackle apparatus from being removed andinstalled on another sling or lifting cable without substantiallydamaging or destroying the shackle apparatus of the present invention,thereby rendering it effectively useless.

The shackle apparatus of the present invention can be affixed to a loadto be lifted by passing a bolt or other rigid member through alignedbores in the shackle arms and through a complimentary hole in a pad eyeor lift lug on the load to be lifted. In the preferred embodiment, saidbolt includes an externally threaded portion and can be secured in placeusing a threaded-nut or other similar device.

It is an object of the invention to provide a captivated shackleapparatus that is permanently attached to a lifting sling or cable.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide ashackle apparatus which cannot be removed from one lifting sling orcable and installed on another lifting sling or cable withoutsubstantially destroying the shackle apparatus of the present inventionand rendering it useless.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shackleapparatus that must be discarded along with a lifting sling or cableafter a predetermined threshold is satisfied such as, for example,length of time or number of lifts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating theinvention, the drawings show certain preferred embodiments. It isunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specificmethods and devices disclosed.

FIG. 1 depicts a partially exploded front view of a prior art shackleapparatus.

FIG. 2 depicts a front view of an embodiment the shackle apparatus ofthe present invention installed on a sling loop.

FIG. 3 depicts partially exploded perspective view of the shackleapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a front perspective view of the shackle apparatus of thepresent invention installed on a sling loop.

FIG. 5 depicts a front view of the shackle apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 depicts a front view of a first alternative embodiment of theshackle apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a front view of a second alternative embodiment of theshackle apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a front view of a third alternative embodiment of theshackle apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a partially-exploded frontview of an embodiment of a conventional lifting assembly utilizing aprior art shackle member 1 having a curved, substantially U-shaped bodysection 8, first arm 2 and second arm 3. A throat or gap 5 is definedbetween said first arm 2 and second arm 3, and a mouth or opening 4leads to said throat 5. Arms 2 and 3 of prior art shackle 1 also includesubstantially parallel ends 6 and 7 respectively. Substantially parallelends 6 and 7 include aligned coaxial transverse bores 6 a and 7 a (notvisible in FIG. 1), respectively, for receiving a bolt 23 or other rigidmember.

In the conventional lifting assembly depicted in FIG. 1, mouth 4 ofprior art shackle 1 is first passed through loop 21 of a sling orlifting cable 20. Coaxial transverse bores 6 a and 7 a of prior artshackle 1 are aligned with an opening (not visible in FIG. 1) in a liftlug or pad eye 28 of a load to be lifted. Bolt 23 is thereafter insertedthrough aligned coaxial bores 6 a and 7 a, as well as said opening (notvisible in FIG. 1) in the lift lug 28 of the load to be lifted. In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 1, bolt 23 can be rotated so that externalthreads 24 present on said bolt 23 can engage with internal threads intransverse bore 7 a extending through end 7 of arm 3. Thereafter, cotterpin 29 can be introduced through cotter pin hole 25 in bolt 23 andsecured in place to prevent said bolt 23 from traveling axially withrespect to aligned bores 6 a and 7 a (not visible in FIG. 1).

FIG. 2 depicts a front view of shackle apparatus 100 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention. Shackle apparatus 100 hasa substantially U-shaped shackle body section 108, and substantiallyparallel first arm 102 and second arm 103. A throat or gap is defined bythe space between said first arm 102 and second arm 103. Retainingmember 130 is disposed between said shackle arms 102 and 103. In thepreferred embodiment, retaining member 130 is a rigid, integrated crossmember disposed between first and second arms 102 and 103, such thatretaining member 130 spans the throat or gap between said first andsecond arms. Retaining member 130 cooperates with shackle body 108 toeffectively form a closed loop. In the preferred embodiment, said closedloop formed by cooperating elements shackle body 108 and retainingmember 130 is permanently affixed to loop 21 of a sling or lifting cable20.

In the preferred embodiment, first shackle arm 102 has lower end 106,while second shackle arm 103 has lower end 107. Shackle arms 102 and 103are substantially parallel and are provided with aligned transversebores 102 a and 103 a (not shown in FIG. 2), respectively, for axiallyreceiving a bolt 120 or other rigid member. Specifically, bolt 120 ispassed through aligned coaxial bores in arms 102 and 103 of shackle 100(as well as an opening in lift lug 28) to affix shackle apparatus 100 toa load to be lifted. Bolt 120 preferably includes an externally threadedportion 124 and cotter pin hole 125 (not shown in FIG. 2) through whichcotter pin 129 can be inserted and secured after a threaded fitting,such as a castle nut 121, is installed on externally threaded portion124 of bolt 120.

FIG. 4 depicts a front perspective view of shackle apparatus 100 of thepresent invention installed on sling loop 21 having reinforcing sleeve22. Shackle apparatus 100 has a substantially U-shaped shackle body 108,first arm 102 and second arm 103 defining a gap between said first arm102 and second arm 103.

Retaining member 130 is disposed between shackle arms 102 and 103. Inthe preferred embodiment, retaining member 130 is a rigid, integratedcross member disposed between the upper ends of first and second arms102 and 103, respectively, such that retaining member 130 spans thespace formed between said first and second arms 102 and 103 of shackle100. Substantially U-shaped shackle body 108 and retaining member 130cooperate to define a substantially closed loop that can be permanentlyaffixed to loop 21 of a sling or lifting cable 20.

In the preferred embodiment, lower end 106 of shackle arm 102, and lowerend 107 of shackle arm 103, are substantially parallel and are providedwith aligned transverse bores (not shown in FIG. 4) for axiallyreceiving a bolt 120 or other rigid member. Bolt 120 is passed throughsaid aligned coaxial bores in lower end 106 of first arm 102, and lowerend 107 of second arm 103 (as well as an aligned opening in lift lug 28)to affix shackle apparatus 100 to a load to be lifted. In the preferredembodiment, retaining cable 123 is provided. Said retaining cable isaffixed at one end to head 122 of bolt 120, and at the other end toshackle body 108 using bracket 126. Retaining cable 123 beneficiallyprevents bolt 120 from being removed from shackle apparatus 100 andsubsequently re-used on another shackle with severing retaining cable123.

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded perspective view of shackle apparatus 100 ofthe present invention having a substantially U-shaped shackle body 108,first arm 102 and second arm 103. A gap is defined between said firstarm 102 and second arm 103. Retaining member 130 is disposed betweenshackle arms 102 and 103 and spans said gap between said arms.

In the preferred embodiment, retaining member 130 is a rigid,integrated, cross member disposed between first and second arms 102 and103, respectively, such that retaining member 130 spans the gap formedbetween arms 102 and 103.

In the preferred embodiment, lower end 106 of shackle arm 102, and lowerend 107 of shackle arm 103, are substantially parallel. Transverse bore104 extends through said lower end 106 of shackle arm 102, whiletransverse bore 105 extends through lower end 107 of shackle arm 103.Transverse bores 104 and 105 are substantially aligned with one another.

Bolt 120 having head 122 and external threaded portion 124 is insertedthrough transverse bore 104, an aligned hold in a lifting lug or pad-eyeof a load to be lifted (such as, for example, lift lug 28 depicted inFIG. 4), and transverse bore 105. Thereafter, castle nut 121 can beinstalled on, and threadably engaged with, threaded portion 124 of bolt120 in order to secure said bolt 120 in place. Alternative boltembodiment 140 is also depicted in FIG. 3. Alternative bolt embodiment140 has external threaded portion 144, which can mate with optionalthreads disposed on the internal surface of transverse bore 107.

Shackle apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 5 includes a curved retainingmember 130 bowing in substantial alignment with the generally arcuateshape of shackle body 108. FIG. 6 depicts an alternative embodiment ofshackle apparatus 200 having a substantially straight retaining member230 disposed in substantially perpendicular orientation to shackle arms202 and 203. The alternative embodiment of shackle apparatus 300depicted in FIG. 7 includes a curved retaining member 330 thatcooperates with substantially arcuate body section 308 to form agenerally circular closed loop. In the alternative embodiment of shackle400 depicted in FIG. 8, retaining member 430 comprises a pair ofprojections 430 a and 430 b. The reduced gap between retaining memberprojections 430 a and 430 b is less than the cross-sectional distance(thickness) of a sling loop (such as sling loop 21 depicted in FIG. 4,for example), such that said sling loop cannot pass through the spaceformed between arms 402 and 403.

In the preferred embodiment, shackle apparatus 100 and bolt 120 of thepresent invention are beneficially constructed of unitary piecespreferably produced by forging using a durable material and can bestrengthened using conventional heat treating processes. In thepreferred embodiment, the forged shackle apparatus 100 is permanentlyattached to the looped end of a sling or lifting cable 20.

Still referring to FIG. 5, apparatus 100 of the present invention can bepermanently attached to a sling or lifting cable such that cooperationbetween the shackle body and retaining member 130 prevents shackleapparatus 100 from being removed and installed on another sling orlifting cable without substantially damaging or destroying shackleapparatus 100 of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment, shackle apparatus 100 of the presentinvention may be beneficially provided with a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) chip or tag. A RFID tag incorporated into shackleapparatus 100 enables a user to monitor the conditions of a shackleapparatus 100 including, but not limited to, the identity, location andhistory of operation and use. Moreover, shackle apparatus 100 of thepresent invention may be beneficially provided with identifying indiciaon the surface of the shackle body 108 or retaining member 130. Suchidentifying indicia may comprise much different information, but in thepreferred embodiment would reflect significant information regarding theshackle apparatus including, without limitation, manufacturer, date ofmanufacture, owner, load rating/specifications and/or useable life.

Although a RFID can be incorporated into shackle apparatus 100 in manydifferent ways, in the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, recess135 is disposed on retaining member 130. A RFID chip can be installed insaid recess 135, and secured in place using an adhesive, resin, epoxy orother material having desired properties.

The above-described invention has a number of particular features thatshould preferably be employed in combination, although each is usefulseparately without departure from the scope of the invention. While thepreferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and describedherein, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than herein specifically illustrated or described, and thatcertain changes in form and arrangement of parts and the specific mannerof practicing the invention may be made within the underlying idea orprinciples of the invention.

1. A shackle apparatus comprising: a. an arcuate body; b. a first armconnected to said arcuate body, said first arm having a transverse boreextending therethrough; c. a second arm connected to said arcuate body,said second arm having a transverse bore extending therethrough, whereinsaid first and second arms are substantially parallel to each other, andsaid transverse bores are in axial alignment; d. a retaining memberdisposed between said first and second arms; and e. a rigid memberreceived within said aligned transverse bores.
 2. The shackle apparatusof claim 1, wherein a loop of a cable sling is disposed between saidarcuate body and said retaining member.
 3. The shackle apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said rigid member comprises a bolt having a first endand a second end, a head disposed at said first end and threads at saidsecond end.
 4. The shackle apparatus of claim 3, further comprising acastle nut threadably connected to the threads of said bolt.
 5. Theshackle apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a cable having a firstend and a second end, wherein said first end is connected to the head ofsaid bolt, and said second end is connected to said arcuate body.
 6. Theshackle apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retaining member comprises asubstantially straight member.
 7. The shackle apparatus of claim 1,wherein said retaining member comprises an arcuate member, and saidarcuate body and retaining member together define a substantiallycircular loop.
 8. The shackle apparatus of claim 2, where said retainingmember further comprises: a. a first projection on said first armextending toward said second arm; and b. a second projection on saidsecond arm extending toward said first arm; wherein the distance betweensaid first and second projections is less than the diameter of the cableforming said sling.
 9. The shackle apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising an RFID chip.
 10. The shackle apparatus of claim 9, furthercomprising: a. a recess in said retaining member for receiving said RFIDchip; and b. an adhesive for securing said RFID chip within said recess.11. The shackle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising indiciadisposed on said arcuate body or retaining member.
 12. A shackleapparatus comprising: a. an arcuate body; b. a first arm connected tosaid arcuate body, said first arm having a transverse bore extendingtherethrough; c. a second arm connected to said arcuate body, saidsecond arm having a transverse bore extending therethrough, wherein saidfirst and second arms are substantially parallel to each other, and saidtransverse bores are in axial alignment; d. a retaining member disposedbetween said first and second arms; e. a bolt received within saidaligned transverse bores, said bolt having a first end and a second end,a head disposed at said first end and threads at said second end; f. acastle nut threadably connected to the threads of said bolt; and g. acable having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end isconnected to the head of said bolt, and said second end is connected tosaid arcuate body.
 13. The shackle apparatus of claim 12, wherein a loopof a cable sling is disposed between said arcuate body and saidretaining member.
 14. The shackle apparatus of claim 12, wherein saidretaining member comprises a substantially straight member.
 15. Theshackle apparatus of claim 12, wherein said retaining member comprisesan arcuate member, and said arcuate body and retaining member togetherdefine a substantially circular loop.
 16. The shackle apparatus of claim13, where said retaining member further comprises: a. a first projectionon said first arm extending toward said second arm; and b. a secondprojection on said second arm extending toward said first arm; whereinthe distance between said first and second projections is less than thediameter of the cable forming said sling.
 17. The shackle apparatus ofclaim 12, further comprising an RFID chip.
 18. The shackle apparatus ofclaim 17, further comprising a recess in said retaining member forreceiving said RFID chip.
 19. The shackle apparatus of claim 18, whereinsaid RFID chip is secured within said recess using an adhesive, epoxy orresin.
 20. The shackle apparatus of claim 12, further comprising indiciadisposed on said arcuate body or retaining member.